Do they mow it's Christmas? Winter 

warmer makes grass grow at Castle Stuart

NEWS RELEASE

A top Scots link has put its festive par-tee on hold – after Spring-like conditions left greenstaff working overtime on Christmas Eve.

The designated drivers at Castle Stuart Golf in Inverness have been behind their mowers cutting the greens in late December for the first time ever.

The course – which hosts the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open next summer – usually has its last trim in November.

But this year greens are still being cut after temperatures topped 10°C.

Warmer weather has also led to gorse flowering on the course, a sight not usually seen until late February or early March.

Chris Haspell, the course manager, said: “It’s good in a way that we are not working in severe winter conditions, but it does bring its own problems.

“Pests that are normally killed by frost can thrive and this increases the risk of disease in the grass.

“It’s a new challenge for us at this time of year but we are managing the conditions and will be ready when the snow does come.” 

Castle Stuart will host the Scottish Open from July 7 to 10 next year.

It will be the fourth time in six years the Moray Firth links, situated between Nairn and Inverness has hosted the event.